BioJapan2025 Luncheon Seminar "Meeting the Challenges of Access to Medicines: Co-creation between the Public and Private Sectors
On October 10, 2025, a luncheon seminar on the theme of "Meeting the Challenges of Access to Medicines: Co-creation between the Public and Private Sectors" was held at BioJapan2025 in Pacifico Yokohama.
Speakers at the seminar included Asuka Miyabashira, Chairman of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA), Yasuhiro Araki of the R&D Policy Division, Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Yasuhiro Fujiwara of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Hirokazu Shimoda of the National Agency for Health Sciences (AMED), and Ken Takahashi of Catalys Pacific Inc. Ken Takahashi of Catalys Pacific, Inc.
The speakers shared their perspectives on the current status, challenges, and future direction of access to medicines in Japan, including the elimination of drug lag/drug loss, and engaged in a lively exchange of ideas.
Opening: Emphasizing the importance of public-private co-creation
At the beginning of the seminar, Mr. Miyabashira, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ), who served as facilitator, delivered his opening remarks.
Chairman Miyabashira expressed his expectations for strengthening the drug discovery ecosystem through public-private partnerships, saying, "It is important to enhance Japan's drug discovery capabilities and market attractiveness by focusing on both risks and opportunities in the changing international situation.
National Perspective: Strengthening Drug Discovery Capability and Accelerating Environmental Improvement
Mr. Araki of the Research and Development Policy Division, Medical Policy Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare explained the overall picture of the national response.
As part of efforts to enhance Japan's drug discovery capabilities, he pointed out the urgent need to develop facilities and human resources capable of conducting high-quality clinical research, and introduced the fact that the "Third Stage Health and Medical Care Strategy" also positions the strengthening of clinical trial implementation systems as one of the measures to promote R&D that contributes to solving social issues. In addition, the company has been working to secure access to unapproved medicines.
He also explained that the PMDA is taking measures to address drug lag/drug loss by promoting projects to secure access to unapproved drugs and enhancing the clinical research support system.
PMDA's Perspective: International Collaboration and Public Awareness of the System
Mr. Fujiwara from PMDA then took the stage and introduced that PMDA is strengthening its consultation system to facilitate the development and introduction of innovative drugs from overseas in Japan, in addition to providing support for practical application in the rare disease and pediatric fields.
Mr. Fujiwara commented, "From an overseas perspective, Japan's pharmaceutical affairs system appears complicated. He also explained the PMDA's Washington D.C. office's international communications and collaboration with various stakeholders to improve the clinical trial ecosystem.
Private Sector Perspective: Drug Discovery Investment Linking Global and Japan
Mr. Takahashi of Catalyst Pacific, a life science-focused venture capital firm, introduced the state of drug discovery support from the standpoint of private investment.
He explained that the company is taking on the challenge of eliminating drug loss through both an "outbound strategy" of starting up ventures from scratch in the U.S. and an "inbound strategy" of developing innovative assets developed in the U.S. and Europe for use in Japan.
He emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships from the perspective of the flow of funds as well, saying, "Increasing market predictability and understanding investors' return expectations are the keys to sustainable development of the drug discovery ecosystem.
AMED's Perspective: Exit Strategies and Human Resource Links Are Key
Mr. Shimoda of AMED emphasized the importance of "exit strategies" to link research results to practical applications as a challenge in the third phase of AMED's efforts to strengthen drug discovery.
He introduced efforts to bridge the gap between academia and startups, and to lead research results to industrialization by developing reliable data, intellectual property, and contracting strategies.
He also expressed his desire to deepen the drug discovery ecosystem through collaboration between the public and private sectors, saying, "Our goal is to create an environment where technologies born from Japanese science can save the world.
Panel Discussion
Public and Private Sectors Share the Vision of "Making Japan a Country of Choice
The panel discussion was facilitated by Mr. Miyabashira, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ), and each speaker discussed future challenges and prospects from his or her own perspective.
Mr. Araki: "I would like to steadily improve the system and create an environment where development in Japan is chosen.
Mr. Fujiwara: "Even if the system is in place, requests will not come unless the people involved are attractive. It is necessary for the people in charge of clinical trials to become independent and change their awareness.
Mr. Takahashi: "We will continue to take on venture-led challenges to prevent the expansion of drug lag/loss.
Mr. Shimoda: "It is important to challenge together from a global perspective, utilizing the high capabilities and human networks of the Japanese people.
Toward a "Japanese-style drug discovery ecosystem" built through public-private co-creation
Through this seminar, it was once again confirmed that "people" and "co-creation" are the driving forces behind Japan's drug discovery ecosystem, in addition to systems and funding mechanisms.
Japan's efforts to eliminate drug lag and drug loss are making steady progress, with the public and private sectors working together across barriers, including through BioJapan.
(Chie Honda, General Manager, Corporate Communications Dept.)